Perfume of Performance

"Hanani the seer came to Asa, king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the LORD thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand.... For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him. Herein thou hast done foolishly.... And Asa slept with his fathers.... and they buried him.... and laid him in the bed which was filled with sweet odours" (2 Chronicles 16:7-14).

The eyes of our Savior still run to and fro
Throughout the whole earth all day long
For those who will trust Him that He may yet show
That on their behalf He is strong.

Such was the case in King Asa's reign,
Who trusted the Lord in his youth,
But in later years, he decided in vain
To forfeit this critical truth!

For thirty-five years then the Lord gave this king
The blessings that trust would afford.
But Asa forgot where those blessings all spring,
And did not rely on the Lord.

And so in his death they gave him perfume,
But better, far better would be
A legacy fragrant then brought to his tomb,
Enduring for eternity.

So teach us, O Lord, to be ever aware
That Your searching eyes never cease
To look for the hearts that are casting their care
On You for Your blessing of peace.

(A note from the author, in two-thousand nine,
The twenty-eighth day of December,
Was thirty-six years that salvation was mine,
And I would do well to remember.

King Asa had prospered for thirty-five years,
As I have, I surely can tell!
My prayer is that God will yet spare me the tears
Of finding I finished not well!)